Bettis Is Happy - And It Shows

CHARLES BRICKER On the NFL

Trade Paying Off Big For Steelers

September 22, 1996|CHARLES BRICKER

The Jerome Bettis in the Pittsburgh Steelers uniform who ran through the Buffalo Bills last Monday night like so many spring-loaded tackling dummies was not the brooding, childish Jerome Bettis who ended his holdout a year ago and reported, unhappily, to the St. Louis Rams.

Even those who saw Bettis pound those big NFC defenses as a rookie in 1993 had not seen him run like this. The combination of speed, power and determination was there before. But now, the balance.

On one play off left tackle against the Bills, Bettis was teetering on one leg after being smacked from the side. He righted himself and ran on. Ran on to 133 yards and two touchdowns in 20 carries - 6.65 yards per carry for those who don't want to do the math.

There were two great trades swung this year and the Rams are on the butt end of both of them. One was Bettis to Pittsburgh for two picks. The other was defensive tackle Sean Gilbert to the Redskins for the No. 6 pick in the first round. We'll get back to that one later.

First, Bettis.

His rebirth not only gives the Steelers a replacement for Bam Morris, dumped over his substance abuse, but is the element Pittsburgh needs to overcome its quarterback deficiencies.

Bettis is intelligent, communicative and literate. But like many people, he has his pride. And after consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, he wanted a new contract from the Rams. He did not get it and ended his holdout a seething man last summer.

You could say Bettis had a bad year in 1995 because he was out of shape after his long holdout. But he wasn't out of shape because of contract negotiations. He was out of shape because he chose not to keep himself in shape.

When he turned up in Jacksonville for an exhibition game, he looked like a 245-pound wimp. No broken tackles. Went down easily. No drive. No push. No churning legs.

Overcoming an ankle injury and the wrath of new coach Rich Brooks, he ran for only 637 yards and, on draft day this year, St. Louis shipped him to his new home for a second-round pick (tight end Ernie Conwell) and a fourth in 1997.

Now the same pride that made him a pain to deal with a year ago is pushing him to recapture the reputation he was building as the Earl Campbell of the 1990s.

"This offense is perfect for me," says Bettis. "I couldn't have gone anywhere else where they run the football the way Pittsburgh does."

The Steelers have the week off, a welcome bye in the schedule after an emotional Monday nighter, and play the Oilers at home next Sunday. Bettis will take some stunning numbers into that game: 55 carries, 306 yards, 5.6 average. As he did as a rookie, he will cause coordinators to adjust their defenses.

The 'Skins game

And now for Gilbert.

In three games, he has almost singlehandedly turned around one of the NFL's worst defenses. His 25 tackles, two for losses on running plays, three sacks (one in each game) and seven quarterback hurries don't begin to tell the story. He has made players around him better. Marc Boutte, the other tackle and another ex-Ram, suddenly looks like a Pro Bowler.

It's no surprise 'Skins coach Norv Turner put a move on Gilbert. Despite his offensive background, he saw first-hand at Dallas what the core of tackles Russell Maryland, Tony Casillas and Leon Lett could do for a defense. This is the best inside combination Washington has had since the days of Dave Butz and Darryl Grant.

As for the Rams, what's really damaging is the stuttering start of running back Lawrence Phillips, taken with Washington's traded draft pick and the man selected to replace Bettis.

Phillips, who missed all of training camp because of contract negotiations, has been dreadful. The same back who beat up the University of Florida in the Fiesta Bowl is being taken down with arm tackles and running clumsily into his guards.

Where's McNair?

Steve McNair, who looked ready to start at the end of his 1995 rookie season, is on the bench because Chris Chandler, long one of the hidden quarterback talents, has been near flawless for the Oilers with six touchdowns, one interception and 59 percent completions.

There's no magic potion involved here for Chandler, who turns 31 on Oct. 12. He simply is a changed person. Gone is the nasty habit he used to have of criticizing teammates or anyone who questioned his ability.

And he has had a myriad of teammates. This is his fifth club - from the Colts to the Bucs to the Cards to the Rams and now to the Oilers. He never got along. He never fit in. Until now.

"I would say there has been a little bit of maturity involved," said Oilers director of pro personnel Rich Snead. "Sometimes, it just takes a while for some players to get everything straight in their heads."

Two people who straightened Chandler out are Houston coach Jeff Fisher and his no-BS offensive coordinator, Jerry Rhome, who coached Chandler at the Cardinals.

Having Fisher's confidence has helped immeasurably. The coach told Chandler he won the job and there won't be any quick hooks to push McNair onto the field.